Amarillo museum to pay tribute to Columbia Commander Rick Husband

AMARILLO - The Texas Air & Space Museum in Amarillo on Friday will commemorate the life of space shuttle Columbia Commander Rick Husband, who died alongside his astronaut crew Feb. 1, 2003.

The museum at 10001 America Drive will highlight a shuttle training aircraft that Husband, an Amarillo native, flew along with related items on display, according to a museum news release.

Visitors can view videos showing how the shuttle returned from space and landed at Florida's Kennedy Space Center, then step into the training aircraft, a Gulfstream jet that seats 11 passengers, to see what the pilot saw as he prepared to fly the shuttle, the release said.

The jet cockpit contains space shuttle instruments and controls for use by an astronaut pilot and normal executive jet controls for use by a co-pilot, museum information said. Also on display will be Husband's Chevy Camaro, a T-38 Talon jet flight suit similar to what Husband wore and artifacts from shuttle missions, the release said.

The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. Admission is free, but donations are accepted.

Drivers can reach the museum from Interstate 40 by taking Airport Boulevard north to Tiltrotor Drive, then following Tiltrotor to American Drive, according to the museum.

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